Name: Historic Railroads of Nebraska
Brand: Michael M. Bartels
SKU: 9780738520353
Price: 18.74 USD
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Historic Railroads of Nebraska

9780738520353

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The advance of Union Pacific Railroad tracklayers across Nebraska was part of America's great adventure of the 19th century. It marked the beginning of the era of the "iron horse" in Nebraska-a time when the whistle of an approaching train became synonymous with prosperity and contact with the outside world. Historic Railroads of Nebraska takes a photographic journey down the tracks of the five major railroads and various short lines that helped Nebraska progress into a national center of agriculture and business. The trip begins with the formative years of Nebraska towns that were established along railroad lines in the 19th century. It then travels through the 20th century and documents the major changes and challenges that the railroad industry faced. Through over 200 photographs, this book chronicles the era of streamlined passenger trains, rustic steam locomotives, and a bustling Omaha Union Station. The journey makes stops at railroad landmarks, significant cities, the state's only railroad tunnel, and the legendary North Platte Canteen.

Cover image for Historic Railroads of Nebraska, isbn: 9780738520353

Lost Restaurants of Lincoln, Nebraska

9781467139496

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Home to the beloved Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls, Lincoln boasts a restaurant history rich with delicious food and unique stories. Tony and Luigi's, once considered the city's premier restaurant, grossed just $6.50 on its opening day in 1945. Legendary Nebraska football coach and athletic director Bob Devaney made the Legionnaire Club his home away from home. Paramount Pictures chose K's Restaurant to film scenes for the Academy Award–winning Terms of Endearment because of its Norman Rockwell–like atmosphere, and touring musicians didn't realize that the Drumstick was named for a fried chicken leg until after arriving to perform. Author and longtime Lincoln Journal Star restaurant critic Jeff Korbelik remembers the Star City's most memorable eateries.

Cover image for Lost Restaurants of Lincoln, Nebraska, isbn: 9781467139496

The 1935 Republican River Flood

9781626198555

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On May 31, 1935, a storm system surged along the Republican River, bursting its banks in a matter of minutes with a roar that could be heard miles away. The greatest flood to hit the tri-state area of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, it left behind a landscape rearranged beyond recognition and claimed more than one hundred casualties. However, amid all the destruction and sorrow, amazing acts of heroism and unwavering courage were reported throughout the valley. Author Joy Hayden reveals the historic disaster and the steadfast resolve of those who witnessed it.

Cover image for The 1935 Republican River Flood, isbn: 9781626198555

History Lover's Guide to Omaha, A

9781467148450

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In Omaha, an evening stroll can provide passage into a fascinating past. Travel from a madam’s elaborate grave in North Omaha to the site of the first U.S. airmail flight in Aksarben. Chase down the echoes of a Duke Ellington performance at the Dreamland Ballroom in the Jewell Building. Stow away on a tour that treats the whole city like a museum. Colorful street murals and Gilded Age mansions stand in as exhibits alongside the more traditional offerings of state markers and archival collections. Gain fresh appreciation for familiar landscapes and famous landmarks as Eileen Wirth and Carol McCabe move through Omaha neighborhood by neighborhood.

Cover image for History Lover's Guide to Omaha, A, isbn: 9781467148450

Beatrice

9781467162364

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Beatrice, Nebraska, was founded in 1857 along the Big Blue River. Known for its rich farming and manufacturing, Beatrice was marketed by the early settlers as the “Queen City of the Blue.”

Beatrice is home to the first homestead claimed after the passage of the Homestead Act of 1862. After the first railroad line came through Beatrice in 1871, the city’s population exploded. At the turn of the 20th century, Beatrice was home to six self-made millionaires, remarkable for the time. Over the years, Beatrice’s population has remained steady—around 12,000—thanks to the help of nationally known industries like Dempster Mill Manufacturing and Beatrice Foods. Today, industries such as eXmark, Beatrice Bakery Company, and Ratigan-Schottler Manufacturing provide products that reach beyond Nebraska.

Gage County Historical Society and Museum strives to preserve the county’s history, including Beatrice, Nebraska. Its mission is “to preserve, enhance, and showcase the unique history of Gage County by connecting our stories to develop appreciation throughout the wider community.” The museum is housed in the 1906 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passenger depot in downtown Beatrice. Covering the first 100 years of Beatrice’s history, this book features never-before-published photographs gathered from a variety of sources, including images from the society’s collection.

Cover image for Beatrice, isbn: 9781467162364

Lost Omaha

9781467119849

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The landmarks of Omaha's past reveal a history of industry, innovation and change. The Hotel Fontenelle, the Omaha Athletic Club and the Medical Arts Building disappeared in the wake of changes remaking downtown after World War II. Jobbers Canyon, a vital part of the city's wholesale district, was sacrificed to ConAgra's headquarters. Peony Park closed as suburban sprawl prevented its expansion, and changing leisure patterns took residents farther away for their amusement park experience. The stockyards finally closed in 1999, ending a long chapter in Omaha's history. Author and historian Janet R. Daly Bednarek charts the legacy of Omaha's lost history through its landmarks.

Cover image for Lost Omaha, isbn: 9781467119849

Railroads of Omaha and Council Bluffs

9780738520421

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Well into the 20th century, the railroad industry implemented a series of great technological changes that revolutionized rail transit in America. The twin cities of Omaha and Council Bluffs, serving as Union Pacific headquarters and the nation's nucleus of continental train travel, witnessed the bulk of these changes. Through a collection of captivating photographs, Railroads of Omaha and Council Bluffs documents the transformations that took place in the railroad industry and the impact those changes made on these two cities, as well as the rest of the country. The creation of the "streamlined" passenger train, the transition from steam to diesel power, the golden years of Omaha's Union Station, and the revolution of railroad freight service through mergers and government deregulation are just some of the events explored in this fascinating book.

The 1931 Hastings Bank Job & the Bloody Bandit Trail

9781609497965

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In February 1931, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hendricks and three others tied up fourteen employees at the Hastings National Bank and walked away with over $27,000 from the vault. They then returned home to plan a robbery of the First National Bank for the following day. Even though police quickly surrounded the house, the robbers managed to capture all eleven officers on the scene and make a getaway. Retired police lieutenant and historian Monty McCord recounts the crime and the grisly aftermath in the first account of the heist ever to be published.

The 1931 Hastings Bank Job & the Bloody Bandit Trail

Crete

9780738593920

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Late-19th-century publications regularly promoted Nebraska's young cities and towns, and Crete was no exception. Settled by homesteaders, merchants, railroaders, and New Englanders associated with Doane College, Crete began as an agricultural trade center, but it soon possessed the refinements of gentility and city culture. One 1890s booklet described the 20-year-old town, with a population of 3,000, as a modern, cosmopolitan, progressive city--traits that few places of similar size in the West could claim. A newspaper article exclaimed, "No city in the West has attracted more attention among Easterners than Crete" and that no other city had a more promising future. Another article called Crete "the gem of the Blue River valley." Situated 25 miles from Nebraska's capital city of Lincoln, Crete already had electricity, running water, a college, churches, a library, and numerous businesses and industries by the late 19th century. The photographs within provide a glimpse into the past life of a town that has continued to evolve and thrive.

North Platte

9780738519883

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Situated at the junction of the North Platte and South Platte rivers, North Platte has a long history as an important stopping point in the westward migration of from the days of the California gold rush to the building of the transcontinental railroad and beyond. The Oregon Trail to the gold rush followed the South Platte River, and the Mormon Trail followed the North Platte River. In 1866 the building of the Union Pacific railroad stopped at North Platte for the winter. The railroad brought the town of North Platte to life. In 1869 the Union Pacific built a huge depot and hotel which stood until destroyed by fire in 1915. It entertained many famous visitors including William F. Cody, George Armstrong Custer, Bat Masterson, and Teddy Roosevelt. Since the 1920s North Platte has grown considerably, helped by the transcontinental Lincoln Highway which still runs through town. North Platte also had the first lighted runway in the United States, used for the air mail planes of the 1920s.

The Burlington Railroad: Alliance Division

9781467112970

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Alliance has been a railroad center ever since the Burlington Railroad established the city in 1888 while pushing tracks into the vast, open regions of Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. As a hub for trains carrying a variety of agricultural and mining products to market, Alliance became headquarters in 1902 for the large and geographically diverse area of Burlington train operations called the Alliance Division. For 86 years, the Alliance Division controlled much of the region's rail traffic. Despite the loss of its division point status in 1988, Alliance continues to have its fortunes closely tied to the railroad, now known as the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe. Today, the BNSF funnels large numbers of coal trains through the city while transporting Power River Basin coal to power plants across the nation.

The Burlington Railroad: Alliance Division

Nebraska Cornhusker Football

9780738534374

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When Matt Davison made a diving catch on the famous "flea-flicker" play against Missouri in 1997, securing Nebraska's perfect season, the Husker faithful were in football nirvana. And that memorable play was preceded by over a century of Nebraska Football greatness. The team was winning conference championships back in the 1890s, and was an established national powerhouse by the time they joined the Big Eight (later Big Twelve) in 1928. Even the mediocre years brought excitement, such as the stunning 25-21 upset of the "unbeatable" Sooners in 1959. Five National Championships (1970, '71, '94, '95, and '97) under the coaching of Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne, when the Huskers won at least 9 games per season for over 30 straight years, is an accomplishment of which most collegiate football programs can only dream.

Kearney's Historic Homes

9781467110143

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The city of Kearney was founded in 1871 under the name Kearney Junction. Rev. D.N. Smith and Moses S. Sydenham were tasked with the job of choosing a townsite. In 1873, after much debate, the small railroad stop was named Kearney. Over the years, the town continued to grow; it really began to boom in 1886, when the Frank family completed construction on an electric power plant, ushering in an unprecedented era of construction and business in the small town. By 1889, over 700 homes had been built in the area. The allure of commerce and real estate drew many investors from the East to Kearney, where they developed neighborhoods filled with impressive mansions. Today, these homes stand as landmarks and testimonies to the historic figures who built Kearney from the ground up.

Nebraska Ordnance Plant, The

9781467161497

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The entrance of the United States into World War II in 1941 completely transformed the nation. During this time, the small Nebraska towns of Mead and Wahoo in Saunders County were chosen to be the site of the Nebraska Ordnance Plant, one of three such plants in the state. The plant operated for 20 years—from 1942 to 1962. It served as an ordnance plant during World War II and the Korean War, then as an Atlas missile site from 1960 to 1962. Since then, the land has been sold to various interests, including the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska National Guard. The Nebraska Ordnance Plant uses over 150 photographs and their accompanying captions to tell the story of the profound effect the plant had on the social, economic, and environmental life of the county.

Jennifer Garza is the assistant at the Saunders County Historical Society and a lecturer in the history department at the University of Nebraska. Erin Hauser is the curator at the Saunders County Historical Society.

Cover image for Nebraska Ordnance Plant, The, isbn: 9781467161497

Omaha's Trans-Mississippi Exposition

9780738531519

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During the summer and early fall of 1898, Omaha, Nebraska, came alive with the sights and sounds of the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. Despite a drought, a difficult economy, and a declaration of war between the United States and Spain, over two and one-half million people gathered on the exposition grounds to celebrate fifty years of progress. This book documents the grand spectacle of the exposition through a remarkable collection of archival photographs, many of which were taken by official exposition photographer Frank A. Rinehart. In these pages, you will discover the architectural splendor and the abundant cultural and artistic achievements that have made Omaha's Trans-Mississippi Exposition a legendary event in American history.

Lincoln's Early Architecture

9781467111690

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Lincoln's predecessor, Lancaster, formed in 1863 on the east bank of Salt Creek around a proposed Methodist female seminary. Though a building was erected, the school failed to materialize. When Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867, the village of Lancaster was chosen as its first capital, and the name was changed to Lincoln. Although lacking mineral resources, a navigable stream, a railroad, or even a minimal population, the village steadily grew and prospered from its 30 original inhabitants to its present population of more than 260,000. At the time of its origins, critics claimed, "Nobody will ever go to Lincoln who does not go to the legislature, the lunatic asylum, the penitentiary, or some of the state institutions." Images of America: Lincoln's Early Architecture traces the city's growth, including three state capitols and the University of Nebraska, into a modern city of diverse people, events, and businesses.

Kearney

9780738541280

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Kearney is situated in the Platte River valley in south-central Nebraska. The Platte River has always been an important route across the Great Plains. Native American tribes such as the Pawnee followed the river to their western hunting grounds. Soldiers at nearby Fort Kearny guarded the Oregon and Mormon Trails while the Pony Express skirted through the county. The Union Pacific Railroad pushed through the region in 1866, and when the Burlington Railroad reached the area in 1871, Kearney (originally Kearney Junction) was born. By the early 1900s, the automobile began to make its mark. The Lincoln Highway, the nation's first paved transcontinental highway, traveled through the heart of town. Today Kearney sits on Interstate 80, and the Archway Monument, a museum that celebrates the region's transportation history, spans the thoroughfare.

History of Nebraska Agriculture, A

9781467136495

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Once known as the Great American Desert, Nebraska's plains and native grasslands today make it a domestic leader in producing food, feed and fuel. From Omaha to Ogallala, Nebraska's founding farmers, ranchers and agribusiness leaders endured hardships while fostering kinships that have lasted generations. While many continued on the trails leading west, others from around the world stayed, seeking a home and land to cultivate. American Doorstop Project co-founders and authors Jody L. Lamp and Melody Dobson celebrate the state's forgotten and untold agricultural history, highlighting more than a century and a half of agriculture industry, inventions and innovations in the Cornhusker State.

Cover image for History of Nebraska Agriculture, A, isbn: 9781467136495

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

9781467136556

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Long ranked as one of the top zoos in America and even the world, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium's history has remained untold, until now. Beginning as little more than a menagerie, the zoo transformed into a spectacular attraction that now draws two million visitors per year. Supporters responded to innovative features such as the iconic desert dome, the new African Grasslands exhibit, the indoor jungle and the all-encompassing aquarium. More than just a showcase, the zoo also supports renowned wildlife conservation and research programs that help preserve endangered species ranging from coral reefs to tigers. Author Eileen Wirth celebrates the history and promising future of the landmark that continues to elicit great local pride.

Gering, Scottsbluff, and Terrytown

9780738560748

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The twin cities of Gering and Scottsbluff are located in the west Nebraska panhandle, just a stone's throw from the Wyoming border and separated by the North Platte River. Gering was established three miles south of the river in 1887 and became a thriving center of commerce. Gering founders gambled that the Union Pacific Railroad would build its track through town, but it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad that arrived first and laid track on the north side of the river in 1900, prompting rapid growth in Scottsbluff. Some Gering residents moved their homes and businesses to the newer community, but others remained steadfast in their belief that the Union Pacific would soon arrive. The Union Pacific track did not reach Gering until 1911, giving Scottsbluff the advantage of years of railroad-spurred growth. Fast-forward to 1948, when latecomer Terrytown was incorporated on the south bank of the river, sandwiched between the two older, larger cities. United by a bridge and undistinguishable municipal boundaries, the three cities retain their separate identities.

Omaha's Historic Houses of Worship

9781467112642

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From the towers of St. Cecilia's Cathedral to the Buddhist statuary garden visible from North Omaha's Sorensen Expressway, Omaha's physical expressions of worship represent the world's major faiths. Images of America: Omaha's Historic Houses of Worship tells the story of how Omahans since the 1850s have created religious buildings and landmarks all over the city as expressions of their beliefs and identities. Images in this book include buildings in the National Register of Historic Places and on local landmarks lists. Through historical religious photographs, readers will learn the colorful tales of the buildings' creations and see how today's Omahans are building the next chapter in the ongoing story of the city's religious landscape.

Cover image for Omaha's Historic Houses of Worship, isbn: 9781467112642

Alliance, Nebraska

9780738508313

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Once heralded as the "Queen City of the Plains,"
Alliance, Nebraska originated as a simple railroad
junction called Grand Lake. Founded on true pioneer
spirit in 1887, Alliance has grown from a farm and ranch
community into a major retail center for Box Butte County.
The Knight Museum showcases over 200 images in this new
book, depicting the history and growth of Alliance during its
113-year history.
Although there are many anonymous threads that make
up the social fabric of Alliance, readers will recognize the
more familiar faces of the Newberry family, Dr. Frank Knight,
Miss Susan Frazier, and Miss Katherine Schill. While some
landmarks are gone forever, such as the depot and the Coors
Building, many timeless photographs remain to guide the
reader down the main street of Alliance's rich history. From
the vintage image of the county courthouse to the beauty
of western Nebraska's largest park system, readers will get a
glimpse of the pioneering spirit that is still so abundant.

Colfax County

9781467111966

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Colfax County is unique with having two towns within its boundaries, Schuyler and Clarkson, plus four villages: Leigh, Howells, Richland, and Rogers. A number of farm precincts were once bustling communities, including Dublin, Heun, Maple Creek, Midland, Shell Creek, Tabor, and Wilson; now, most have only a church and/or cemetery to denote their sites. Schuyler is the county seat and can boast of having the first electric plant, water plant, and telephone exchange in the state. The Morman Trail, Oregon Trail, and Military Trail followed the banks of the Platte River and were utilized by troops and immigrants. Cattle herds from the Chisholm Trail were shipped from the Schuyler rail yards to markets in the East.

Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln

9780738519272

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Jewish history and culture is rich in the State of Nebraska. By the early 20th century there was a Jewish presence in over 30 Nebraska towns, some dating back to the 1850s. Today, the great majority of Jews live in Omaha, with a smaller community in the capital city of Lincoln. Synagogues, temples, community centers, and cemeteries mark the landscape.

In the pages of Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln: A Photographic History, peoples' lives, events, neighborhoods, and institutions that helped shape and transform today's Jewish community are brought to life. This vibrant tapestry is captured in images ranging from a mid-19th century stereopticon to a recent aerial photograph. The over 230 images, culled from the collection of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, focus on immigration patterns that brought Jews into the region, from the opening of the West, to the Holocaust, to the arrival of Soviet Jews. Other images look at the changing face of synagogues and religious practices in the Midlands. Jewish-founded businesses that are mentioned in this book are landmarks in Omaha and throughout the Midwest, from the Nebraska Furniture Mart to Omaha Steaks International.

Boys Town

9780738508276

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Boys Town: The Constant Spirit maps the remarkable journey of a tiny youth refuge, Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, from its humble beginnings in December 1917 to its role as a leading national force in youth care by the end of the century. Compiling over 200 photographs from the Boys Town archives, author James R. Ivey recreates the history of the ideas, successes, and triumphs of Father Flanagan and his boys.

In 1917, Father Edward J. Flanagan, a Roman Catholic priest and Irish immigrant, borrowed $90 from a friend to open a home for wayward boys in downtown Omaha. The first five boys he took off the streets moved in just after Thanksgiving of that year, and a legacy was born. Featured here in vintage photographs are the first house at 25th and Dodge Streets, the move to the spacious Overlook Farm, the road to Hollywood, and Father Flanagan's rarely noted assistance to Japanese Americans during World War II.

Norfolk, Nebraska

9780738507767

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Founded in 1866 by German immigrants, Norfolk, Nebraska grew up along the banks of the North Fork of the Elkhorn River. The original 250 settlers founded Madison County's first church and school, and from these humble beginnings grew a town that today is the jewel in the crown of northeast Nebraska and the state's third largest retail area. Showcasing over 200 images, Sheryl Schmeckpeper traces the history of this community from its roots as a Native American campground, to a sleepy farming community, and finally to a bustling city. Although there are many anonymous people pictured here who contributed to the Norfolk of today, readers will
recognize the more familiar faces of Herman Gereke,
Dr. "Diamond Dick" Tanner, and Johnny Carson. Vividly
captured are the landmarks that are gone forever, such as the Granada Theater, the Sugar City Cereal Mill, and the old high school that burned down in 1907. Also included are never before published photographs of the flood of 1944, the blizzard of 1948, and the Chicago Lumber Company fire.

Antelope County

9780738598871

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Named for the frisky and elusive animals that bounded across the prairie, Antelope County is located in the center of Nebraska's northeast corner. The county's gently rolling slopes are bisected by the Elkhorn River Valley. The first people traveling through the area were fur traders and Pawnee, Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe Indians. After passage of the Homestead Act in 1862 and the end of the Civil War in 1865, the lure of starting a new life on unclaimed land in the West brought settlers to the valley. When immigrants from New England, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois rode the ferry across the Missouri River, they were advised to travel farther west to the fertile soil of the Elkhorn Valley. After Antelope County was founded in 1871, railroads promoted the establishment of Oakdale, Neligh, Tilden, Clearwater, Elgin, Orchard, Brunswick, and Royal. The settlers engaged in farming and related agricultural activities.

Nebraska Courthouses

9780738519678

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County courthouses stand at the center of Nebraska local government. Their authority in the state extends over hundreds of square miles with county populations ranging from less than a thousand to nearly half a million. The activities taking place within these buildings range from storing vital statistics, such as birth and death certificates, to hosting the trials of common criminals and not-so-common "crimes of the century." Using over 235 photographs, Nebraska Courthouses vividly describes the architectural and political evolution of the courthouse. Often in the early years of Nebraska statehood war nearly broke out in these courthouses as county formation saw spirited battles to become the county seat. Today, the courthouse remains the center of community pride, anchoring the downtown of each county seat. Courthouses contain the offices of elected officials and county staff. In this volume you will see the places where judges, lawyers, the County Attorney, social workers, librarians, janitors, and other individuals that make government work.

Baseball in Omaha

9780738532769

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Professional baseball history in Omaha began in 1869 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings came to town, besting local teams 65-1 and 56-3, and touching off a barnstorming tradition that would bring Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and others over the years to League Park, Brown Park, and Municipal Stadium (later rededicated as Rosenblatt Stadium). Omaha became part of the Western League in 1895. William "Pa" Rourke's League Park at 20th and Vinton became Omaha's first municipal ballpark in 1911 and the center of professional Omaha baseball until its destruction by fire in 1936. The 1940s and early 1950s saw the Omaha Cardinals play as part of the Western League and American Association, with the Dodgers appearing briefly in the early 60s. Since 1969, Omaha has been home for the Kansas City Royals AAA team. Since 1950, Omaha has hosted the NCAA College World Series. But Omaha baseball is also about the sandlots and games played at Riverview Park, Benson Park, Fontenelle Park, Brown Park, Athletic Park, and Burdette Park; about the Packing houses, breweries, restaurants, car dealerships, and insurance companies that have sponsored teams; and about neighborhood teams battling for bragging rights and the high school players who were immortalized in Robert Phipps' columns in the Omaha World Herald.

Nebraska's Cowboy Rail Line

9780738560328

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Nebraska's Cowboy Line existed for nearly 125 years and covered more than 400 miles as it made its way across the northern portion of the state. The construction of the rail line, which started in 1869, was the impetus for the establishment of many towns, and even the relocation of some, along the route. The line was employed to transport miners to the Black Hills during the gold rush of the late 1800s, it carried thousands of Irish and German immigrants to the largely unsettled area, and it allowed politicians to meet their constituents. It also was used to deliver necessities, amusements, technology, and new innovations to the state's citizenry.

Nebraska City

9781467114493

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When Lewis and Clark pulled their way up the Missouri River in the summer of 1804, their journals reported an area of boundless prairie and beautiful streams on the river's west bank. Fifty years later, the community of Nebraska City was born on that very spot. For many decades, the community served as a jumping-off point for travelers bound farther westward as thousands of wagon trains departed every year. By the late 1800s, the city became known for another reason: the home of Arbor Day. First introduced by Nebraska City resident J. Sterling Morton in 1872, Arbor Day became Nebraska's holiday and is now celebrated worldwide. The 1900s saw a decline in the transportation industry but a rise in manufacturing and the growing and canning of produce. Today, historical tourism makes up the economic lifeblood of this small but thriving community.

Omaha's Easter Tornado of 1913

9780738531847

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On Sunday, March 23, 1913, the burgeoning city of Omaha, Nebraska, fell victim to one of the worst tornado disasters in American history. Downtown was spared, but the fashionable neighborhoods of the city's western fringe and the ethnic neighborhoods of north Omaha were destroyed. Over 100 lives were lost, and millions of dollars in property damage was done. Photographers descended upon Omaha, rendering astonishing images of the storm's aftermath. This book uses nearly 200 of those photographs, many of which are drawn from the Durham Western Heritage Museum archives, to document the tornado's path of destruction, as well as stories of survival, compassion, reconstruction, and the remarkable unity and resilience of the Omaha community.

Bellevue

9780738576510

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Bellevue received its French name, meaning "beautiful view," from fur trader Manuel Lisa as he stood high atop a hill, looking out at the scenic Missouri River Valley before him, or so the legend goes. Two hundred years after Lisa's proclamation, Bellevue has grown to become a sprawling metropolis proudly recognized as the third largest city in Nebraska. However, the story could have ended long before this. Bellevue was originally supposed to serve as an important railroad thoroughfare and as the first capital of the Nebraska Territory. Neither of these ultimately happened. Yet, Bellevue has persevered onwards and upwards. From its origins as little more than a trading post for westward travelers and Native Americans, to serving as the headquarters for the former Strategic Air Command at the onset of the modern jet age, Bellevue has taken a remarkable journey.

Papillion

9780738576527

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Papillion's name is derived from French fur traders who ventured near the valley of the Papio Creek as early as 1739. The butterfly-filled meadow was so beautiful that one of the men is said to have exclaimed in his native tongue, Papillon! (meaning butterfly). The land would later come to be known as Papillion. Native Americans roamed freely across the local prairie until 1857, when John L. Beadle obtained a land grant and platted a town. Successful negotiations with the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific Railroads ensured the growth and prosperity needed for the Papillion Town Company to incorporate in 1870. Businesses soon lined the center of the village as German immigrants cultivated the land. New schools and churches enhanced the establishment of the booming community, which became the seat of Sarpy County. The pioneers persevered through fire, pestilence, and flood to establish Papillion, a town destined to survive.

Cover image for Papillion, isbn: 9780738576527

Detour Nebraska

9781625858818

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

For many, Nebraska is the flat prairie seen from the interstate. Yet with the Sandhills, bluffs and river valleys, the state has an abundance of riches. The heritage of early settlers is evident. Fort Kearny and Chimney Rock were pioneer harbors. The Fur Trade Museum and the Homestead Monument of America tell of those who came to make a life. Carhenge is a nationally known treasure. The Joslyn Art Museum features world-class art, and the Nebraska National Forest is the largest hand-planted forest in the nation. Native Nebraskan Gretchen Garrison details the places and people that make the Cornhusker State unique.

The College World Series

9780738533797

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Since 1950, Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium (formerly Municipal Stadium) has hosted the nation's top college baseball programs in the College World Series. Baseball fans from every corner of the country have taken the annual "Road to Omaha" and packed the seats to see championship baseball at its best. In 1954 thousands saw Jim Ehrler of Texas toss the tourney's first no-hitter en route to the Longhorns winning back-to-back CWS championships. Fans at the 1970 tournament saw Southern Cal defeat Florida State in the midst of their unmatched five-year championship run. In 1996 Rosenblatt's faithful took in the dramatic bottom-of-the-ninth, two-out, two-run homer by Louisiana State's Warren Morris, giving his team a 9-8 upset victory over powerhouse Miami.

Washington County

9781467126281

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The area that would become Washington County was first settled by the explorers, trappers, and fur traders who traveled by steamboat along the Missouri River to an area inhabited by the Otoe, Missouri, and Omaha Indians. These settlers were pioneers of German, English, Danish, and Irish ancestry who migrated west in search of a better life. They came by steamboat, flatboat ferry, the occasional canoe, on horseback, in wagon teams, and sometimes by foot, venturing into the vast great plains of the frontier. They staked their claims, built sod and hewn-log homes, and traveled on the first post roads using old Indian trails. From the timberland along the river, they pushed westward into the lush rolling hills of red top, timothy, clover, and prairie grasses and tilled the virgin soil to build their futures. It would be another 15 years before the railroad broke ground. These brave men and women journeyed westward, traveling with all their possessions, into the untamed territory that they would later call home.

Welcome to Omaha

9781467128650

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Millions of people traveling America's railroads and highways pass through Omaha, breaking for an overnight stay. At the end of the day, the traveler's experience is in the hands of transportation workers, hoteliers, and restaurateurs who promise comfort, food, and safety. Omaha's hospitality industry offerings ranged from the modest Scandinavian Young Women's Christian Association and the Hotel Harley bachelor lodgings to the lofty Fontenelle and Blackstone Hotels. The resilient Paxton has been a fixture since 1882. Visitors to Omaha took in the bright lights and culture, documenting their impressions on postcards that picture the city's hotels, restaurants, train depots, bridges, and weather events.

Mari Sandoz's Native Nebraska

9780738507842

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When the Mari Sandoz High Plains Center opens in Chadron, Nebraska in 2001, it will be one of three centers at which Nebraska honors its outstanding writers. Through the compilation of over 200 images in this new book, taken from historical collections and her own work, author and photographer LaVerne Harrell Clark contributes to that same purpose. In it, she recreates the frontier life of settlers and the neighboring Sioux and Cheyenne Indians of the sandhills region of northwestern Nebraska. Accompanied by in-depth captions detailing Mari Sandoz's life and works, these images illustrate how she came to hold an outstanding place as an American writer until her death in 1966. Born in 1896, in the "free-land" region of the Nebraska Panhandle, Sandoz was greatly influenced in her writing by the people who called at her homestead. Her acquaintances included Bad Arm, a Sioux Indian who fought at the Little Bighorn and was present at Wounded Knee, "Old Cheyenne Woman," a survivor of both the Oklahoma and Fort Robinson conflicts, and William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the legend of the Old West.

Kearney's World Theatre

9780738583259

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The World Theatre in Kearney, Nebraska, opened in 1927 and was welcomed by an excited public. Much more than just a movie house, it soon proved to be a social center, where people of all professions, ages, and income levels would frequently gather, because it was modern and new and there were considered few equally attractive alternatives. Some went because it was a sanctuary or where they earned a living, while others nurtured the seeds of attachments there or sought out temporary distractions such as bits of humor, drama, mystery, or adventure. For still more, it was an important venue for staying informed or even escaping the heat of the day. Slowly over time, the entertainment and economic landscapes in the country changed, affecting The World's profitability as well as others like it.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

9781467125581

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Early in 1869, Nebraska's legislature convened for the first time in the new capital city of Lincoln. Eager to reap the benefits of the Morrill Act, legislators quickly approved a bill establishing the University of Nebraska. Visionary lawmakers rejected the creation of two universities and determined that the state university and the state agricultural university should "be united as one educational institution." Thus was born Nebraska's great land grant and comprehensive research university that serves Nebraskans and the world beyond the state. Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, Olympic athletes, and Nobel Prize-winning scientists have launched their careers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as have world-class artists, entertainers, educators, and business leaders.

Nebraska Beer

9781467117807

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Nebraska's craft beer scene may be relatively young, but the state's rich brewing history stretches back to the 1800s. Tyler Thomas of NebraskaFoodie.com presents the whole story, from quenching thirsts in small towns before Prohibition to homebrewers going commercial and launching the nation's first winery/microbrewery combination. From bourgeois to blue collar, the craft breweries thriving today have distinct and entertaining stories. What drives them all are passionate people pouring their hearts into great beer, which they share one pint, pitcher or growler at a time.

Cover image for Nebraska Beer, isbn: 9781467117807

Butler County

9780738560519

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Harvey L. Boston opened the Boston Studio in downtown David City in 1893. For about the next 35 years, Boston personally recorded the people and places of Butler County using photography. Boston had an eye for detail, and through his photographs, one is able to inspect and appreciate the clothing of the early years of the 20th century: from everyday styles to formal and special occasion costumes. The Boston Studio was opened toward the end of what was known as the Victorian era, a time when how a woman and members of her family dressed was a reflection of the family's prosperity. This attention to detail is very evident in the photographs taken by Boston. The various fashions worn by Butler County residents provide a wealth of information about a person's life, even when information about that person is not otherwise known. While once almost lost to history, the Boston Studio Collection of approximately 60,000 negatives has now been preserved and is available for the public to again appreciate for its historic value. The more than 200 Boston photographs carefully selected for this book demonstrate what life was like in Butler County between 1900 and 1920 and feature a cross-sampling of the people, both well known and anonymous, who were responsible for influencing the early history of Butler County.

Stanton County

9780738561271

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The boldest and bravest of pioneers headed west, by covered wagon and on foot, to carve out new lives from verdant prairie sod, near the riverbanks in the beautiful Elkhorn Valley. French fur trappers called the river Corne de Cerf, French for the "horn of the elk," due to the river and its tributaries resembling the antlers of a stag. It then became known as the Elkhorn River. Catfish, bullheads, perch, and bass provided a welcomed change in sparse diets. Here settlers established churches, schools, and towns in a raw wilderness where Ponca, Omaha, Sioux, and Pawnee tribes lived. The prairie grasses fed herds of buffalo, elk, deer, and bighorn sheep. Coyotes, foxes, and wolves roamed in abundance. This land was named Stanton County in honor of Edward M. Stanton, Abraham Lincoln's ex-secretary of war. Germans, Scandinavians, Bohemians, and Canadians settled in the picturesque river valley and were joined by settlers from Wisconsin and Virginia, as well as the Hoosiers from Indiana.

History of Nebraska Agriculture, A

9781625859075

$7.99 $5.99 Save 25%

In this collection of 15 vintage-photograph postcards American Doorstop Project co-founders and authors Jody L. Lamp and Melody Dobson celebrate the state's forgotten and untold agricultural history, highlighting more than a century and a half of agriculture industry, inventions and innovations in the Cornhusker State.

Cover image for History of Nebraska Agriculture, A, isbn: 9781625859075

University of Nebraska-Omaha Football

9781467114615

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From its inaugural season in 1911 through its final season in 2011, the University of Nebraska-Omaha football team always faced an uphill struggle in terms of resources. The program reached a pinnacle in 1954 with its lone unbeaten season. Many other teams and individuals also found great success, winning conference titles and bowl games and moving onto professional careers. Just because the school no longer offers football, it does not mean that the thousands of men who played for the Mavericks from 1971 to 2011, the Indians from 1939 to 1971, and the Cardinals and the Maroons before should not be remembered and honored for the years they poured their hearts and souls into the Omaha football program.

A Century of Sports at the University of Nebraska at Kearney

9780738550640

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For more than 100 years, students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (formerly Kearney State and the Nebraska State Teachers College) have worn the blue and gold of the Antelopes. Within these pages are more than 200 photographs that chronicle the storied history of athletics at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Legendary coaches such as Fred Fulmer, Charlie Foster, Al Zikmund, and Jerry Hueser are highlighted along with the star athletes they coached, including Pat Panek, Frank Lydic, Larry Snell, Randy Rasmussen, Tom Kropp, and Bart Kofoed.
Also appearing in these pages are coach George Van Buren, who, beginning in 1910, helped shape the early sports program, and lesser-known but equally important athletes such as multisport standouts Earl "Irish" Carrig, Ronald "the Farnam Flash" Lewis,
and Ray Adams. Besides athletes, coaches, and championship teams, the intense rivalry with Hastings College is highlighted throughout. A Century of Sports at the University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a compelling visual history that will take the Antelope faithful on a journey back to the glory days of the school's athletics.

A Century of Sports at the University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of Nebraska at Omaha

9780738551104

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The University of Nebraska at Omaha, inaugurated in 1968, emerged from the Municipal University of Omaha established in 1931, which grew out of the University of Omaha founded in 1908. In each of the school's three lives, the faculty sought to provide quality education for recent high school graduates and adults returning to school in a well-rounded learning environment. The commuter college moved from relying on charitable donations and tuition to a city tax base and ultimately state revenues. The campus grew numerically and spatially. Accommodating students and faculty, setting priorities and funding initiatives is a continuous challenge not always met expeditiously. The exciting visual cavalcade and text captures a century of public higher education in America's urban heartland and the role of graduates in American society.

York College

9781467112635

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The dream of York College involved hundreds of people—its reality has touched the lives of thousands. Born in a small town on the rolling plains of Nebraska in 1890, the United Brethren Church and citizens of York established York College on an empty expanse of prairie called East Hill. Its earliest classes, offered in rented rooms above a dry goods store on the town square, established the foundations of a Christian college. The institution grew as buildings arrived with each passing decade. These brick-and-mortar symbols of the college's progress include Old Main, Hulitt Conservatory of Music, Alumni Library, and Middlebrook Hall. When a tragic fire engulfed the school's venerable Old Main in 1951, York College was pulled from the ashes as a second group of believers took the institution's reins. The Churches of Christ determined to continue the dream, standing on the shoulders of those who had come before them.

Cover image for York College, isbn: 9781467112635

Grand Island

9780738560571

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During the early 20th century, Grand Island was a unique and diverse community. No one captured this better than Julius Leschinsky. As Grand Island's premier photographer from the 1880s to the 1930s, Leschinsky immortalized a time of great change and growth in American culture. Through the compelling images of the Lumbard-Leschinsky Studio Collection, witness how Grand Island grew from a railroad town to an economic and cultural hub in central Nebraska. Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer has selected some of Leschinsky's best work to share a rare and detailed look into nearly every facet of life in Grand Island from 1910 to 1918. Many of these remarkable images have never been published and have not been seen for nearly 100 years.

Grand Island and Hall County

9780738541440

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Grand Island and Hall County, settled by German immigrants in 1857, benefited from the diversification that the railroad and western immigrants brought to central Nebraska. Their stories, captured in these images, are the stories of the heart and soul of America. Located in the Platte River valley, Grand Island and Hall County have long served as a gateway to the West. Thousands of western immigrants traveling the California-Overland and Mormon Trails purchased their supplies from the many road ranches scattered across Hall County. The Union Pacific Railroad arrived in Grand Island on July 8, 1866, and brought with it growth and prosperity. Grand Island swiftly evolved from a prairie town to a railroad city. From the sugar beet factory to the world's second-largest horse and mule market, business and industry flourished, and the people of Hall County reaped the benefits.

Omaha Food

9781467117814

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Without its once-booming livestock industry, Omaha would be a very different place. Although it was originally known for its legendary steakhouses, today's eateries exceed the influence of cattle. Out of a rich foundation of traditions like steaks with hash browns and mostaccioli, Reubens and South O dive bars grew a creative culinary community with a fiercely loyal following. Today, Omaha is a platform for nationally recognized chefs. Home to one of America's greenest restaurants and the recent birthplace of the Rounder, the story of Omaha food is ripe for the telling. Author Rachel P. Grace celebrates the scene in this unapologetically witty culinary adventure.

Cover image for Omaha Food, isbn: 9781467117814

Hastings

9780738519005

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Railroads were responsible for establishing many towns in Nebraska, including Hastings. The location of the city was determined by the junction of two railroads, the Burlington and Missouri River, and the St. Joseph and Denver City. Hastings was founded in 1872 and named after railroad construction engineer Major Delmonte Hastings.

Hastings: The Queen City of the Plains includes over 200 photographs from the Adams County Historical Society and the author, Monty McCord. You will see Heartwell Park, which was originally established as a private park by James B. Heartwell in 1886. Other images show the Fisher Rainbow Fountain, one of the most identifiable landmarks in the city, located in front of the utilities building. This book also showcases images of the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot, which was built during World War II, and had a large impact on Hastings' development.

Norfolk

9781467113984

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In July 1866, three wagon trains of German immigrants from Wisconsin arrived at their new home on the North Fork of the Elkhorn River in northeastern Nebraska. The settlers intended to call the town Northfork, but in 1868, when the abbreviated Norfork was submitted to federal postal authorities, the government assumed the name was misspelled and changed it to Norfolk. Since the town's founding, the story of the community has been one of continuous growth that has led to a bountiful, thriving town. Norfolk's hardworking people are generous, welcoming, and open to new ideas. Though it has changed with time, the unconquerable spirit of the city remains young and active. Images of Modern America: Norfolk is a photographic journey into the 21st century.

Cover image for Norfolk, isbn: 9781467113984

Cuming County

9780738590707

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When European settlers first came to Cuming County, they saw only what the Omaha, Pawnee, Otoe, and Ponca, and a few early trappers and traders had always seen: grass. They found acres of big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass, and sideoats grama. With slough grass growing as tall as a man on horseback, landmarks—a lone tree or a bend in the river—helped them find their way home to families burrowed into their dugouts like gophers on a mound-dotted prairie. Beginning in the 1860s, railroad tracks crisscrossed the state, bringing Germans, Bohemians, Scandinavians, Irish, and more. Eventually, a network of dirt roads, graveled county roads, and paved highways replaced the deer paths and Indian trails. So has run the winding path of Cuming County's continual transformation into a patchwork quilt of farm fields, cattle yards, homes, and businesses, stitched together with the firm threads that make a county strong.

Cover image for Cuming County, isbn: 9780738590707

Chadron

9780738532806

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Over 150 years ago, the area now known as Chadron was vast, open grassland. Nearby water sources, Chartran Creek and Bordeaux Creek, were named for the French fur traders whose main customers were nomadic tribes the French called the Sioux. When gold was discovered in the Black Hills, the area quickly changed. The military outposts Fort Robinson and Camp Sheridan were established to control Indian Agencies for Red Cloud's and Spotted Tail's bands. Cattle replaced buffalo on the rich grasslands. The railroad pushed its way west, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Lincoln in Black and White

9780738561622

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Lincoln, Nebraska's capital, grew from 45,000 to 55,000 residents in the years 1910-1925. The state's second-largest city, Lincoln was also home to Nebraska's second-largest African American community--a "small town" within the midwestern city. Local race relations were a study in contradictions. Public education and residential neighborhoods were relatively integrated; employment and social institutions were increasingly restricted. Within this setting, a laborer named John Johnson--a native of Lincoln and son of a black Civil War veteran--produced remarkable images as an itinerant photographer of the Lincoln scene, especially of its black community. Johnson left very little written record, so knowledge is fragmentary of his working techniques and of his collaborators or assistants. But his visual legacy takes people through the streets, onto the front porches, and into the backyards and living rooms of a vibrant community.

Nebraska State Fair

9780738583273

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The Nebraska State Fair commenced in Nebraska City in 1859, long before Nebraska became a state. Agriculture was recognized as the prime industry in the region, and the promotion of land and products was a driving influence for developing an exposition to put Nebraska on display. In 1901, the state legislature passed a bill declaring Lincoln as the official permanent site for the annual event. In the fair's 140-year history, Lincoln held 108 Nebraska State Fairs. The event was cancelled twice--in deference to the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, a world's fair held in Omaha in 1898, and when the government suspended all fair events in 1945 due to World War II. The fair offers food, entertainment, exhibits, and competitions for visitors of all ages and interests. Each year, there are bigger and better shows, midways, and performers to entice new crowds and to draw those who attend year after year. The history is preserved in precious photographs and memorabilia. Though the fair bids a sad farewell to Lincoln, new memories await as it moves to the centrally located community of Grand Island for its grand opening in late August 2010.

Vetter Health Services

9781467113830

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Jack and Eldora Vetter began Vetter Health Services (VHS) in 1975 with the belief that elderly people deserve dignity in life. Forty years later, what began as the couple's personal mission has grown to include more than 30 award-winning senior-care facilities home to 2,200 residents and patients who are cared for by 3,500 team members. Based in Elkhorn, Nebraska, VHS is recognized as a national leader in providing safe, comfortable, and happy senior living centers. Each facility is built around the individual needs of residents and the community; every aspect of care and operation is shaped by the VHS mission, vision, and values. Support and expertise are always available from administrators and team members who share Jack and Eldora Vetter's heart for service and passion for excellence. Together, they are changing the view of long-term care for senior citizens.